Welcome to the Saturday Slapshot.  I’m Jared and I’ll be your host.  Tonight we have a solid 8 game slate where I’ll be highlighting some of my top NHL DFS plays on Fanduel and Draftkings. 

Before we dive in I want to highlight some terms you’ll see in my article that may be foreign to you:

• Corsi – Any shot attempt (goals, shots on net, misses and blocks) outside of the shootout
• Even Strength – Play where both teams have the same number of players (including goalies) on the ice. Includes 5v5, 4v4, 3v3
• Power Play – Play where the team has more players on the ice than their opponent due to penalties. Includes 5v4, 5v3, 4v3
• Penalty Kill – Play where the team has fewer players on the ice than their opponent due to penalties. Includes 4v5, 3v4, 3v5

Goaltending

Thomas Greiss $6.9k DK/$6.7k FD) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – Greiss burned me last weekend when I made him my top goaltending pick, but I’m going right back to the well.  From a cost standpoint, Greiss has a great chance of returning some solid value tonight.  He’s been in the net 4 times so far this season and has reached at least 17 DK points in 3 of those outings. 

He’s facing a Maple Leafs team tonight that has struggled to put the puck in the net.  They’re averaging over 34 shots per game and only scoring on average 2 goals.  Greiss should face a barrage of shots tonight and that’s what we want to see from our goalie. While there’s a good chance he lets in a few goals tonight, he also stands a great chance of getting that 35 save bonus tonight. 

Spencer Knight ($7.6K DK/$8.6k FD) vs. Boston Bruins – This is strictly a DraftKings play tonight as I don’t want to pay $8.6k for Knight, let alone really any goalie.  Like Greiss, Knight is facing a Bruins that has been struggling to find the back of the net.  Of all the teams playing tonight, the Bruins have one of the worst shooting %’s to start the year. 

They’re averaging 34 shots per game and only 2.5 goals.  At some point the Bruins are going to explode, I just don’t think it’s tonight.  Look for Knight and his fellow Panthers to continue to roll and get to 9-0 tonight. 

Mike Smith ($7.7k DK/$8k FD) vs. Vancouver Canucks – Mike Smith is expected to return from the IR tonight and if he does, I’m a big fan of this spot.  You’ll notice a trend with my goal picks.  Pick a goalie vs. a team that shoots a lot but doesn’t score a lot.  Like the Maple Leafs and Bruins, the Canucks fit that mold. 

On the year they’ve been averaging around 32 shots per game but only scoring 2.5 goals.  Any time I can try to snag a goaltender that has a realistic shot at getting the 35 save bonus on DK, I’m going to jump at it.  In Smith, we have that chance tonight as the Oilers have been giving up over 37 shots per game.  If Smith does not suit up tonight and they go with Koskinen, I’m also a fan of his.  

Stacks

Edmonton 1 (McDavid/Hyman/Puljujarvi/Bouchard)

You could put any 2 scrubs on the McDavid’s line against the best defensive team in the league and I’ll still recommend his line.  In McDavid we’re witnessing the best player to the play the game since the Greztky/Lemieux era.  Sorry Penguins fans, McDavid is greater than peak Crosby and it’s not even close. 

Over his last 5 games McDavid is averaging close to 3 points per game.  That’s an absurd pace and while there is always a chance that he gets a goose egg, I’m willing to take that chance.  Even at his price.  McDavid and his peers get to take on a Canucks team that has been prone to giving up some high danger chances as they’re giving up nearly 12 per game.  High danger chances equals a greater chance of giving up goals.  I love this line tonight and so should you.  

St. Louis PP1 (Tarasenko/Schenn/Perron/Krug)

Vladimir Tarasenko is a must play on DK and IMO is also a free square.  I know, you must be thinking that I’m crazy for calling someone that is $6,100 a free square.  Tarasenko is on absolute fire right now and his price hasn’t even come close to catching up to his production.  He’s had 4 straight games with at least 20 DK points.  I don’t see him cooling down tonight as the Blues play arguably the worst team in the league tonight in the Blackhawks. 

Of all the teams playing tonight the Blackhawks are averaging the most goals against at 4.5 goals per game to start the year.  The Blues stand a great chance to put up a big number tonight. Tarasenko will be your core here and if you want to get some savings and not play the PP1 from St. Louis, you could pair him with Robert Thomas (not the same guy from Matchbox Twenty). 

Maple Leafs 1 (Matthews/Buntin/Nylander/Reilly)

If you end up fading Greiss tonight, I’d recommend using the Maple Leafs top line.  At some point the Maple Leafs are going to have their explosion and it could very well be tonight against a defensively challenged Red Wings team.  The Red Wings are giving up a ton of high danger chances so far this year.  In fact, no team on tonight’s slate is giving up more than them.  Giving up 15 high danger chances per game is going to bite you more often than not. 

With the Leafs, it all starts with Auston Matthews.  While Matthews only has 2 points in his last 5 games, it hasn’t been for a lack of trying with his near 4.5 shots per game.  Over his last 5 games he has an individual corsi of 45 which leads all skaters on tonight’s slate.  He’s firing at all angles and at some point, they’ll find the back of the net.  

Other stacks (Winnipeg 2, San Jose 1, Minnesota 1, Detroit 1)

Top Defenseman

• Brent Burns – San Jose
• Matt Dumba – Minnesota Wild
• Seth Jones – Chicago Blackhawks
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Vancouver Canucks
• Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers
• Aaron Ekblad – Florida Panthers

Summary

We have a great slate tonight with 8 games on top.  I plan on prioritizing both McDavid and Tarasenko (DK) tonight and building their line mates around them.  If you want to game stack, the SJ/WPG game should be high scoring.

Good luck and hope to see you in the green!

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